School in Moab begins again at the end of August, but there is still plenty of time to get your children the required vaccines. Immunizations are a powerful health tool to prevent common childhood illnesses and diseases, so make an appointment to get your children in to see their primary care doctor or visit the health department to update their immunizations.

Children entering kindergarten and seventh grade are required to receive certain vaccines before they can start school, unless they have completed a Utah Department of Health exemption form. Those forms can be obtained from the Southeastern Utah District Health Department, located at 575 S. Kane Creek Blvd. in Moab, or from the primary care doctor, depending on the type of exemption requested. Parents may request that their children be exempt from having the vaccinations based on medical, religious, or personal reasons. The exemption forms usually have to be completed annually and filed each year with the school your child will be attending. For more information about exemption forms and requirements, contact the health department at 435-259-5602.

Immunizations are important to prevent serious illnesses and diseases. Immunizations can protect future generations from preventable diseases and illnesses, but if parents choose to delay some vaccines or refuse some vaccines entirely, it is important to know that there can be risks involved, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Please, take the steps to protect your child, your family, and others by discussing those risks with your healthcare provider and by learning about immunizations. Information is available at the CDC website at www.cdc.gov, by contacting your local health department for more information or by visiting the Utah state website at www.immunize-utah.org/index.html.

Make an appointment with your child’s primary care physician or visit one of these local offices, which regularly offer children’s immunizations in the Moab area:

Southeastern Utah District Health Department, 575 S. Kane Creek Blvd. Immunization Clinics held Mondays from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.; Wednesdays from 3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.; and by appointment. For more information call 435-259-7369, or visit their website at www.southeasternuthealth.org.

Spanish Valley Clinic, 11850 S. U.S. 191. Immunization and well-child visit walk-in hours are Mondays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; and Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 9 a.m. to noon. For more information call 435-259-6507.

Moab Family Medicine, 476 W. Williams Way, Suite A. Walk-in immunization hours are Monday through Friday from 9 to 10 a.m. For more information call 435-259-7121 or visit their website at www.moabfamilymedicine.com.

Dr. Ray Andrew Family Practice, 255 W. Williams Way in Moab. Walk-in immunization hours are Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information call 435-259-4466.

Children under age 18 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian when receiving immunizations and should plan on staying at least 30 minutes to one hour after immunizations are given. Please bring all immunization records and insurance information when arriving for the appointment or clinic visits. For handouts, parent education, printable immunization schedules and immunization tracking forms visit www.cdc.gov, your local health department website or ask your primary care doctor for more information.

Angela McEllhiney is a registered nurse who has spent several years working in hospital pediatric intensive care units. She now lives and works in Moab, Utah.

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